Saipan Rep. Ray N. Yumul, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said House Bill 16-275 mandates that the Retirement Fund be paid $1.93 million and MVA $3.8 million from the total collections of hotel occupancy and alcoholic beverage container taxes in FY 2010.
The Department of Public Lands is separately budgeted for $3 million. Other autonomous government agencies have their own appropriations.
Twelve members voted in favor of H.B. 16-275. Four voted against it: House Minority Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan; Reps. Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan; Rep. Edwin P. Aldan, Covenant-Tinian; Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan.
Four members were excused — Reps. Victor Hocog, Ind.-Rota; Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan; Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan; House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho, R-Saipan.
The Fitial administration is not pleased with how the House divided the projected available resources for FY 2010 which starts on Oct. 1.
“We have some concerns about the House budget proposal, and we look forward to working with both the House and the Senate to address these budget concerns. The Senate may also have its own considerations,” Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said in an e-mail when Variety asked for comment.
In a separate interview, Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, described H.B. 16-275 “a balanced budget.”
“It’s $150.5 million. No more, no less,” he said.
The Legislature is not going to deal with any measure that will impose austerity holidays on government employees, he added.
The speaker noted that the budget bill requires each department and agency to live within their means.
“They are given the discretion to do that,” he said.
Only two amendments to the budget bill were offered during the session.
Rep. David M. Apatang, R-Saipan, added a provision requiring the government to pay $50,000 in the case of Indalecio v. CNMI, et al and $90,000 in the case of Ocampo, et al. v. CNMI. Both are civil actions.
For his part, Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, changed a word in the provision that mentioned the JROTC program.
The budget bill now goes to the Senate.
